MDMA increases dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, producing heightened energy, mood, empathy, and increased heart rate and blood pressure. Effects last about 3–6 hours, and high doses can impair the body’s temperature regulation, potentially causing organ failure or death. After use, individuals may experience irritability, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, memory and attention difficulties, and reduced sexual interest. Prescription Opioids The following information on health risks is from the National Institute on Drug Abuse: Prescription opioids used for pain relief are generally safe when taken for a short time and as prescribed by a doctor, but they can be misused. Opioids bind to and activate opioid receptors on cells located in many areas of the brain, spinal cord, and other organs in the body, especially those involved in feelings of pain and pleasure. When opioids attach to these receptors, they block pain signals sent from the brain to the body and release large amounts of dopamine throughout the body. This release can strongly reinforce the act of taking the drug, making the user want to repeat the experience. In the short term, opioids can relieve pain and make people feel relaxed and happy. However, opioids can also have harmful effects, including drowsiness, confusion, nausea, constipation, euphoria, and slow breathing. Opioid misuse can cause slow breathing, which can cause hypoxia, a condition that results when too little oxygen reaches the brain. Hypoxia can have short- and long- term psychological and neurological effects, including coma, permanent brain damage, or death. Researchers are also investigating the long-term effects of opioid addiction on the brain, including whether damage can be reversed. People addicted to opioid medication who stop using the drug can have severe withdrawal symptoms that begin as early as a few hours after the drug was last taken. These symptoms include muscle and bone pain, sleep problems, diarrhea and vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps, uncontrollable leg movements, and severe cravings. An opioid overdose occurs when a person uses enough of the drug to produce life-threatening symptoms or death. When someone overdoses on opioid medication, their breathing may slow or stop, reducing the amount of oxygen reaching the brain, which can lead to coma, permanent brain damage, or death. If an overdose is suspected, the most important action is to call 911 for immediate medical attention. Once medical personnel arrive, they will administer naloxone. Naloxone is a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose when given promptly. It works by rapidly binding to opioid receptors and blocking the effects of opioid drugs. Naloxone is available as an injectable solution, a hand-held auto-injector (EVZIO®), and a nasal spray (NARCAN® Nasal Spray). 13 — 2025 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report
